Demand on health service and stretched budgets mean 'difficult decisions' says minister

Hooper: 'Not a comfortable place to be in'

Growing demand on health services – coupled with stretched budgets – is the biggest challenge for the Department of Health and Social Care.

That’s the opinion of the minister in charge who admits it’s not a ‘comfortable place to be in’.

Manx Care overspent by £9 million last year – forecasts show the health body has already overspent by more than that at this point in the financial year.

Lawrie Hooper told Manx Radio he doesn’t believe the funding allocated by Treasury has been sufficient for some time: